A project that slims a dangerous section of Kent Avenue in South Williamsburg and straightens out an awkward stretch of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway route is nearing the finish line.

In March 2013, Julio Acevedo was driving north on Kent Avenue at 69 mph when he killed Raizy and Nathan Glauber, both 21, in a two-car crash at Wilson Street. Acevedo fled the scene and later faced charges, including criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter.

The deaths spurred changes. DOT installed traffic signals at Wilson and Hooper Streets, and last January Community Board 1 supported a plan to replace parking on the west side of the street with a two-way bikeway, while adding parking along the median on the east side to slow northbound traffic.

The plan also improves the continuity of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway route. Previously, the two-way bike lane on Kent jogged awkwardly, directing northbound cyclists to hop onto a sidewalk path between Williamsburg Street West and Division Avenue, while southbound cyclists had a painted lane between parked cars and motor vehicle traffic. The new arrangement creates a route where cyclists’ paths don’t criss-cross, bike traffic stays off the sidewalk, and the bikeway is separated from cars with flexible posts. Time will tell if those posts are enough to prevent the sidewalk parkingextravaganzas that occasionally overwhelm this part of Kent Avenue.

With the reconstruction of Flushing Avenue planned for this fall, there will soon be three miles of continuous two-way bikeway from North 14th Street in Greenpoint to Navy Street near the foot of the Manhattan Bridge.

Stephen Miller
is a reporter for Streetsblog NYC. He has been covering the movement for safer streets, effective transit, and livable cities since 2012.

If plastic bollards will (sort of) work here, why not put them on more buffered bike lanes? Chrystie Street is crying out for one. They wouldn’t prevent really bad actors, but they would discourage the casual bike lane blockers.

Some time this year, as part of a NYCDOT Bridge Component Rehabilitation contract. This will complement new bicycle infrastructure approved by Queens Community Board 2.

Hilda

Put down a new line of parking, such as the new line of parking on Northbound Kent, and people seem to know exactly what to do. But put down this bike lane, an extension of the existing, and it will take a while for people to get used to “new design”.

Tyler

Bollards and curbs are a great addition. Setting aside aesthetics, I don’t think you’d want jersey barriers in most places for access reasons. Fire trucks and ambulances (and their equipment) can go over / through curbs and bollards, not so much 2-1/2 ft tall concrete walls.

http://tsurufoto.com/ Aaron Tsuru

Rode it this morning now that they’ve painted the little bike people. Are they done? Or are they going to add a little barrier. Going against traffic, you feel a little bare.

Also, some guy parked is car in the bike lane to let someone out. The idea of someone possibly doing that right at me is a little worrying. I had to swerve into the road.

J

Good point. Maintaining emergency access is important, and hopefully some combination of curbs and bollards will permit emergency access while still keeping 99.9% of vehicles out.